Arriving will be Rear Adm. Brian L. Losey, who during his career has commanded the ultra-elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group, sometimes called SEAL Team 6. This team is credited with carrying out the mission that killed terrorist leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

Pybus has endured the hot seat during his tenure, as the SEALs were catapulted into the public spotlight following the Bin Laden mission.

Pybus has tried to clamp down on the SEALs' high profile, which is anathema to the group's covert nature.

But it didn't help that a Navy-sponsored Hollywood movie starring active-duty SEALs debuted soon after, and then former SEAL Matt Bissonnette wrote a book detailing Bin Laden's death. Other former SEALs, including the late Chris Kyle, also came out with books about the world of special operators.

A few years younger than Pybus, Losey is a 1983 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. Since June 2011, he has been commander of special-operations forces in the Africa region.

The date of the change of command has not yet been released.

(Story corrected to reflect actual name, not pen name, of former SEAL who wrote a book detailing the Bin Laden raid.)